teaching

Way back at the dawn of time when I was in school, LBJ was in the White House and cigarettes were prescribed by doctors,  a book was published called Up The Down Staircase (1965). It was a free form written look at the daily life of a teacher in public school. It was very funny in that it identified some of the foolishness teachers had to contend with while simultaneously attempting to cram useful knowledge into dense heads. (I know, I was one of those dense heads.) Although fiction, it rang true for teachers across the nation.It is with that thought in mind that I chose this title as an homage.

In 2005 I joined the ranks of the Clay County School District as a 4th grade classroom assistant. I signed on to work at the newest elementary school in the district. It was definitely an eye opener. I developed more respect for authority then in my previous 20 years of corporate work. Overall, the classroom  was such a great experience that I jumped in with both feet and decided to become a substitute teacher. I worked full-time at another new school while volunteering at my son's elementary school. Somewhere along the way, things became more difficult than I had bargained for and I gave myself a much needed break the month of December. It's funny how the more you need a break the less you seem to get one, especially during the holidays. In January, our family suffered a set back when my dad had open heart surgery.  Which brings me back to teaching. Why do people do it? I ask myself that everytime I accept an assignment. Then I remember, I just want to help. I want to help the teacher who cannot be in the class. I want to help the students who will miss their teacher. I want to help the school because Clay County Schools have a steadfast repuration. That's why we hold a mortgage on a home in Clay County. So our son can go to a top-rated school system. I think that's a good reason to teach.